Academy D20 Talented & Gifted Belief Statement

​The Academy District 20 Gifted Education Program is dedicated to excellence by maximizing the potential and meeting the exceptional educational and affective needs of identified Gifted students from diverse populations. The Academy District 20 Gifted Education Program provides Gifted students opportunities for intellectual challenge, engaging enrichments, and dynamic programming resulting in maximum growth. We strive to inspire creativity, passion for learning, leadership, and social responsibility.

Definition, Identification & Eligibility

​Definition

" 'Gifted Children' means those persons between the ages of four and twenty-one whose aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted children are hereafter referred to as gifted students. Children under five who are gifted may also be provided with early childhood special educational services. Gifted students include gifted students with disabilities (i.e. twice exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any or a combination of these areas of giftedness:

Students are identified for the purpose of meeting their unique learning needs. District 20 identifies students based upon a body of evidence which includes testing, teacher and parent observation, etc.

Eligibility

Students who are identified as talented and gifted students in Academy District 20 based upon established D20 criteria.

Students who have been previously identified as gifted in other districts.

Students who are identified while attending LHS through new test data, and a body of evidence which meets D20 criteria.

LHS has an open enrollment philosophy regarding Honors and AP courses. While identified TAG students are encouraged to challenge themselves with these rigorous courses, Honors and AP courses are open to any student.

TAG Education at LHS

​Liberty High School offers unique challenges to gifted students through both the wide array of academic courses as well as the variety of co-curricular activities and clubs. The TAG coordinator in conjunction with counselors, teachers, parents and the gifted student work together to place students in classes and enrichments which meet the unique needs of the gifted learner. Classroom teachers differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of a variety of learners including highly gifted students. The TAG coordinator serves as a resource to the teacher, student and parent.

TAG services include, but are not limited to the following:

Assessment of student need.

Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) for identified students.

Curriculum extensions and enrichments based on individual needs.

Resource assistance and support for classroom teachers.

Honors/AP classes (courses open to all students regardless of TAG identification).

The mission of Liberty High School, a comprehensive learning community that builds on a rich tradition of excellence, is to educate and equip the whole student by providing academically challenging curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities that prepare every student for the post-secondary path of his or her choice.